Preparatory Prayer

Preparatory Prayer

Most merciful Lord, with a contrite heart and penitent spirit I bow down before Thy divine Majesty. I adore Thee as my supreme Lord and Master. I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee above all things. I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, my only and supreme God. I firmly resolve to amend my life; and although I am unworthy to obtain mercy, yet looking upon Thy holy Cross I am filled with peace and consolation. I will, therefore, meditate on Thy sufferings, and visit the Stations in company with Thy sorrowful Mother and my holy Guardian Angel, to promote Thy honor and to save my soul.

I desire to gain all indulgences granted to this holy exercise for myself and for the souls in Purgatory.

O Loving Jesus, inflame my cold heart with Thy love, that I may perform this devotion as perfectly as possible, and that I may live and die in union with Thee. Amen.

Jesus is condemned to death STATION I

STATION I

Jesus is condemned to death

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You,
because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Jesus, you stand all alone before Pilate. Nobody speaks up for you. Nobody helps defend you.

'For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.'(John 3:16)'Though He was harshly treated, He submitted and opened not His mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, He was silent and opened not His mouth.'(Isaiah 53.7).

'No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.'(John 15:13)

My Jesus, it was not Pilate, it was my sins that condemned You to die. I beg You, by the merits of this sorrowful journey, to assist my soul in its journey toward eternity. I love You, my beloved Jesus; I love You more than myself; I repent with my whole heart for having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...

Lord Jesus, crucified. Have mercy on us.

Jesus carries his cross STATION II

STATION II

Jesus carries his cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You,
because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Jesus, as you accepted your cross,you knew you would carry it to your death on Calvary.
'It was our infirmities that He bore,our sufferings that He endured. He was pierced for our offenses,crushed for our sins.'(Isaiah 53:4-6)
'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.'(Luke 9:23)
'Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy, and Myburden light.'(Matthew 11:28-29)
My beloved Jesus, I embrace all the tribulations You have destined for me until death. I beg You, by the merits of the pain You suffered in carrying Your Cross, to give me the necessary help to carry mine with perfect patience and resignation. I love You, Jesus my love; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...

Lord Jesus, crucified. Have mercy on us.

Jesus falls the first time STATION III

STATION III

Jesus falls the first time

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You,
because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Jesus, the cross you have been carrying is very heavy. You are becoming weak and almost ready to faint, and you fall down. Nobody seems to want to help you.

'He has broken my teeth with gravel, pressed my face in the dust; My soul is deprived of peace, I have forgotten what happiness is.'(Lamen 3:16-17)'We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; But the Lord laid upon Him the guilt of us all.'(Isaiah 53:6)

'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!'(John 1:29)

My beloved Jesus, it is not the weight of the Cross, but my sins, which have made You suffer so much pain. By the merits of this first fall, deliver me from the misfortune of falling into mortal sin. I love You, O my Jesus, with my whole heart; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...

Lord Jesus, crucified. Have mercy on us.

Jesus meets his mother STATION IV

STATION IV

Jesus meets his mother

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You,
because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

You see your mother. She can't make the hurting stop, but it helps to see that she is on your side, that she is suffering with you.

'Did you not know that I must be in My Father's house?'(Luke 2:49).'Come, all you who pass by the way, look and see whether there is any suffering like My suffering.'(Lamen 1:12)

'You also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.'(John 16:22)

My most loving Jesus, by the sorrow You experienced in this meeting, grant me the grace of a truly devoted love for Your most holy Mother. And you, my Queen, who were overwhelmed with sorrow, obtain for me by your intercession a continual remembrance of the Passion of your Son. I love You, Jesus, my love; I repent of ever having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...

Lord Jesus, crucified. Have mercy on us.

Simon helps Jesus to carry his cross STATION V

STATION V

Simon helps Jesus to carry his cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You,
because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Jesus, the soldiers are becoming impatient. This is taking longer than they wanted it to. They are afraid you won't make it to the hill where you will be crucified. As you grow weaker, they grab a man out of the crowd and make him help carry your cross.

'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of Mine, you did for Me.'(Matt 25:40)'Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.(John 13:16)

My beloved Jesus, I will not refuse the Cross, as the Cyrenian did; I accept it, I embrace it. I accept in particular the death You have destined for me; with all the pains that may accompany it; I unite it to Your death, I offer it to You. You have died for love of me; I will die for love of You, and to please You. Help me by Your grace. I love You, Jesus my love; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love you always; and then do with me what You will.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...

Lord Jesus, crucified. Have mercy on us.

Veronica wipes the face of Jesus STATION VI

STATION VI

Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You,
because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Jesus, suddenly a woman comes out of the crowd. Her name is Veronica. You can see how she cares for you as she takes a cloth and begins to wipe the blood and sweat from your face. She can't do much, but she offers what little help she can.

'His look was marred beyond that of man, and His appearance beyond that of mortals.' (Isaiah 52:14). 'He spoke to us through His Son, whom He made heir to all things and through Whom He created the universe, Who is the refulgence of His glory, the very imprint of His being. (Hebr 1:2-3)

My beloved Jesus, Your face was beautiful before, but in this journey it has lost all its beauty, and wounds and blood have disfigured it. My soul also was once beautiful, when it received Your grace in Baptism; but I have disfigured it since by my sins; You alone, my Redeemer, can restore it to its former beauty. Do this by Your Passion. O Jesus, I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again; and then do with me what You will.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...

Lord Jesus, crucified. Have mercy on us.

Jesus falls the second time STATION VII

STATION VII

Jesus falls the second time

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You,
because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

This is the second time you have fallen on the road. As the cross grows heavier and heavier it becomes more difficult to get up. But you continue to struggle and try until you're up and walking again. You don't give up.

'I was hard pressed and was falling, but the Lord helped Me.'(Psalm 118:13). 'Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.'(Mat 11:28)

My most gentle Jesus, how many times You have pardoned me, and how many times have I fallen again, and begun again to offend You! By the merits of this new fall, give me the necessary help to persevere in Your grace until death. Grant that in all temptations which assault me I may always commend myself to You. I love You, Jesus my love, with my whole heart; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me what You will.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...

Lord Jesus, crucified. Have mercy on us.

Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem STATION VIII

STATION VIII

Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You,
because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Jesus, as you carry your cross you see a group of women along the road. As you pass by you see they are sad. You stop to spend a moment with them, to offer them some encouragement. Although you are have been abandoned by your friends and are in pain, you stop and try to help them.

'Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children.'(Luke 23:28). 'Anyone who does not remain in Me will be thrown out like a branch and wither.'(John 15:6).

My Jesus, laden with sorrows, I weep for the offenses I have committed against You, because of the pains they have deserved, and still more because of the displeasure they have caused You, Who have loved me so much. It is Your love, more than the fear of hell, which causes me to weep for my sins. My Jesus, I love You more than myself; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again; and then do with me what You will.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...

Lord Jesus, crucified. Have mercy on us.

Jesus falls a third time STATION IX

STATION IX



Jesus falls a third time

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You,
because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Jesus, your journey has been long. You fall again, beneath your cross. You know your journey is coming to an end. You struggle and struggle. You get up and keep going.

'I am like water poured out; all My bones are racked. My heart has become like wax. My throat is dried up like baked clay, My tongue cleaves to My jaws; to the dust of death, you have brought Me down.' (Psalm 22:15-16). 'He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.'(Phil 2:5-7)

My outraged Jesus, by the merits of the weakness You suffered in going to Calvary, give me strength sufficient to conquer all human respect, and all my wicked passions, which have led me to despise Your friendship. I love You, Jesus my love, with my whole heart; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love you always; and then do with me what You will.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...

Lord Jesus, crucified. Have mercy on us.

Jesus clothes are taken away -STATION X

STATION X

Jesus clothes are taken away

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You,
because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

The soldiers notice you have something of value. They remove your cloak and throw dice for it. Your wounds are torn open once again. Some of the people in the crowd make fun of you. They tease you and challenge you to perform a miracle for them to see. They're not aware that you'll perform the greatest miracle of all!
'They divide My garments among them, and for My vesture they cast lots.'(Psalm 22:19)
'Everyone of you who does not renounce all that he possess cannot be My disciple.'(Luke 14:33)
'Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and as for the flesh, take no thought for its lust.'(Rom 13:14)
My innocent Jesus, by the merits of the torment You have felt, help me to strip myself of all affection to things of earth, in order that I may place all my love in You, who are so worthy of my love. I love You,O Jesus,with my whole heart;I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again;and then do with me what You will.
Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...

Lord Jesus, crucified. Have mercy on us.

Jesus is nailed to the cross- STATION XI

STATION XI

Jesus is nailed to the cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You,
because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

You are stretched out on the cross you have carried so far. The soldiers take big nails and drive them into your hands and feet. You feel abandoned by the people you loved so much. People seem to have gone mad. You have done nothing but good, yet they drive nails through your hands and feet.

'They have pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones.' (Psalm 22:17-18). 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'(Luke 23:34)
'I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him Who sent Me.' (John 6:38)

My Jesus! loaded with contempt, nail my heart to Your feet, that it may ever remain there, to love You, and never leave You again. I love You more than myself; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love you always; and then do with me what You will.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...

Lord Jesus, crucified. Have mercy on us.

Jesus dies on the cross - STATION XII

STATION XII



Jesus dies on the cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You,
because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

As Jesus hung on the cross, he forgave the soldiers who had crucified him, and prayed for his mother and friends. Jesus wanted all of us to be able to live forever with God, so he gave all he had for us.

'And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to Myself.' (John 12:32). 'Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit.' (Luke 23:46)

'He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even to death on a cross. Therefore God also has exalted Him.' (Phil 2:8-9)

O my dying Jesus, I kiss devoutly the Cross on which You died for love of me. I have merited by my sins to die a miserable death; but Your death is my hope. By the merits of Your death, give me grace to die, embracing Your feet, and burning with love for You. I yield my soul into Your hands. I love You with my whole heart; I repent of having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love you always; and then do with me what You will.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...

Lord Jesus, crucified. Have mercy on us.

Jesus is taken down from the cross - STATION XIII

STATION XIII

Jesus is taken down from the cross

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You,
because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Jesus, how brutally you were put to death. How gently your are taken from the cross. Your suffering and pain are ended, and you are put in the lap of your mother. The dirt and blood are wiped away. You are treated with love.

'Did not the Christ have to suffer those things before entering into His glory?' (Luke 24:26). 'Those who love Your law have great peace.'(Psalm 119:165)

'In this has the love of God been shown in our case, that God has sent His only-begotten Son into the world as a propitiation from sins.'(1 John 4:9-10)

O mother of sorrow, for the love of this Son, accept me for your servant, and pray to Him for me. And You, my Redeemer, since You have died for me, permit me to love You; for I wish only You, and nothing more. I love You, my Jesus, and I repent of ever having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love you always; and then do with me what You will.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...

Lord Jesus, crucified. Have mercy on us.

Jesus is laid in the tomb - STATION XIV

STATION XIV

Jesus is laid in the tomb

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You,
because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.

Jesus, your body is prepared for burial. Joseph gave you his own tomb. He laid your body there and rolled a large stone in front of it, then went home. What a sad day it has been for so many people.

'The death that Christ died, He died to sin once for all, but the life that He lives, He lives unto God. Thus do you consider yourselves also as dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.'(Rom 6:10-11). 'Christ rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures.' (1 Cor 15:3-4)

Oh, my buried Jesus, I kiss the stone that encloses You. But You rose again the third day. I beg You, by Your resurrection, make me rise glorious with You at the last day, to be always united with You in heaven, to praise You and love You forever. I love You, and I repent of ever having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love you always; and then do with me what You will.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...

Lord Jesus, crucified. Have mercy on us.